Menopausal Age in Relation to Smoking

Abstract

A population study of women revealed more smokers among 50 yr old postmenopausal women than among women of the same age who still menstruated. The difference was statistically significant. The postmenopausal smokers had on average smoked as long as or longer than the smokers who still menstruated. The higher number of smokers among postmenopausal women could thus not be explained by these women starting to smoke in connection with the menopause. Nonsmoking women were on average heavier than smoking women. Previous studies indicate that an increased amount of adipose tissue might delay the menopausal age. The difference in menopausal age between smoking and nonsmoking women might be explained either by a delayed menopause in nonsmoking women due to an increased amount of adipose tissue in these women or by a precocious menopause in smokers due to toxic effects from smoking. Probably both factors are of importance, but results indicate that smoking per se is the main factor. The increased number of smokers among women with precocious menopause can probably explain part of the overrepresentation of women with precocious menopause among those who have myocardial infarction.